After a decade of unparalleled stability and growth for The Nationals in Victoria, Peter Walsh has stood down as leader of the party and deputy leader of the Coalition.
But will continue working hard as the Member for Murray Plains.
Mr Walsh has dedicated the past 22 years to serving regional and rural Victoria since 2002 – first winning the seat of Swan Hill and then the new seat of Murray Plains following a redistribution in 2014.
Before entering Parliament, he owned and operated one of the state’s largest tomato growing operations as part of his irrigated horticulture and cropping enterprise, also producing cereals, oilseeds and legumes. In that role he began his public and community service as Victorian Farmers Federation president; a director of the National Farmers Federation and a director of SPC Limited.
Born and raised in Boort, Mr Walsh’s time farming and living in regional Victoria saw him naturally interested in agricultural and water policy, which is why, he said, he put his hand up to try and make a difference.
After his work with the VFF and entering politics, Mr Walsh would go on to serve as Minister for Agriculture and the Minister for Water in the 2010-2014 Coalition Government. He was elected leader of the Victorian Nationals following the November 2014 election.
In 2003 he was awarded a Centenary Medal for his services to the environment.
Mr Walsh said the development of the Murray Darling Basin Plan was one of his biggest political challenges, fighting hard in Opposition and Government to ensure the rights of Victorian irrigators were fairly balanced with the needs of the environment.
He said he believed that initially had been achieved, but he now has “grave concerns” the socialist left agenda of both the Albanese and Allan Labor governments has “skewed the goals and long-term future of the strategy”.
“It has been my privilege to serve the people of two electorates in regional Victoria, in particular, and the whole state in general, and to have been able to lead The Nationals for 10 years and help return to party to the prominence it and its supporters deserve, with 11 members in the Parliament, has been something which I look on with pride and satisfaction,” Mr Walsh explained.
“I would also like to personally thank all the staff who have worked with me, put up with me, through all these years, it would not have been possible to do the work I have without their support,” he added.
“And I cannot thank the people of the seats of Swan Hill, and Murray Plains enough for their ongoing support, and trust in me, as their voice in the state’s Parliament. And I look forward to continuing to work on their behalf as we head towards the 2026 election and returning the right parties to government.”
Outside politics, Mr Walsh is a keen footy fan. He not only played football for Boort but was also the club president, committee member and selector at various stages.
A lifelong Geelong supporter, he is now hoping his new world will allow him time to attend more games.
“Finally, I cannot thank my wife Liz enough. She has been my greatest and most loyal supporter, and it will be almost impossible to repay her for the way she has been prepared to put up with the workload and long absences.
“I was so excited for her, and proud of her, when she received her OAM earlier this year – I was pretty convinced she got that mostly for putting up with me.
“And hopefully she will be able to cope with me being around a bit more than she is used to.”